The official Hot Stove League Thread 2025-26 Offseason

[D-train]

He had a .768 OPS for 50 games. That's the good news but how does he go 3-51 to end the season. Mystery wrapped in a riddle in the belly of an enigma.

[Donn Beach]

He had a .768 OPS for 50 games. That's the good news but how does he go 3-51 to end the season. Mystery wrapped in a riddle in the belly of an enigma.

I'm gonna say worn down and they began to really drill into holes in his swing. It's going to be that kind of back and forth battle with him I would bet. I can see that being the difference between how scouts view him and analytics. The analytics see the promise, scouts see the holes. I think I'd sit him next to Refsnyder during games. They could discuss cutting the plate in half. Young is going to have to figure out how to minimize his weaknesses and maximize his strengths. I was thinking about that article, the Nelson Cruz part. Cruz was just about out of baseball as well before he figured it out. He credits SS with helping him. I could see Refsnyder being that kind of guy.

[D-train]

He had a .768 OPS for 50 games. That's the good news but how does he go 3-51 to end the season. Mystery wrapped in a riddle in the belly of an enigma.

I'm gonna say worn down and they began to really drill into holes in his swing. It's going to be that kind of back and forth battle with him I would bet. I can see that being the difference between how scouts view him and analytics. The analytics see the promise, scouts see the holes. I think I'd sit him next to Refsnyder during games. They could discuss cutting the plate in half. Young is going to have to figure out how to minimize his weaknesses and maximize his strengths. I was thinking about that article, the Nelson Cruz part. Cruz was just about out of baseball as well before he figured it out. He credits SS with helping him. I could see Refsnyder being that kind of guy.

Yeah Ref probably has a future as a hitting coach. Might as well start now.

[gil]

Pitchers and catchers are at spring training for several teams today. It's Thursday for the Ms.

https://www.springtrainingonline.com/20 ... ing-dates/

[D-train]

Pitchers and catchers are at spring training for several teams today. It's Thursday for the Ms.

https://www.springtrainingonline.com/20 ... ing-dates/

Love you brother. You are one of the good ones.

[Bil522]

You really haven't been paying attention if you don't think we are set at DH. These are VERY conservative projections and still have us at 1.6 fWAR at DH. I think it will be about double that.

Screenshot 2026-02-06 072814.png

Ref and Dom as a DH. Sorry. That is a drop off. So I still say no real hitter as DH. Rotational DH ? Sorry top 2 are a Aaaa player and a marginal player from Boston. K

So, young kids at 3rd. I’ll stand and say we recorded of today than the end of the season. DH and 3rd main reason why.


Dom as DH??? Holy hell

What don't you like about Canzone?

Here's his numbers next to some other players that DH-

Ummm, does no one notice that Dom has 300 fewer ABs than the others in the table? He caught a heater coming back from Tacoma, but was totally overwhelmed in the playoffs and in any clutch or high-leverage situations. I don't think you can really count on him for a full year.

[Donn Beach]

Ref and Dom as a DH. Sorry. That is a drop off. So I still say no real hitter as DH. Rotational DH ? Sorry top 2 are a Aaaa player and a marginal player from Boston. K

So, young kids at 3rd. I’ll stand and say we recorded of today than the end of the season. DH and 3rd main reason why.


Dom as DH??? Holy hell

What don't you like about Canzone?

Here's his numbers next to some other players that DH-

Ummm, does no one notice that Dom has 300 fewer ABs than the others in the table? He caught a heater coming back from Tacoma, but was totally overwhelmed in the playoffs and in any clutch or high-leverage situations. I don't think you can really count on him for a full year.

I don't know, 15tth best wRC+ in MLB last season, i'll take it

[D-train]

Ref and Dom as a DH. Sorry. That is a drop off. So I still say no real hitter as DH. Rotational DH ? Sorry top 2 are a Aaaa player and a marginal player from Boston. K

So, young kids at 3rd. I’ll stand and say we recorded of today than the end of the season. DH and 3rd main reason why.


Dom as DH??? Holy hell

What don't you like about Canzone?

Here's his numbers next to some other players that DH-

Ummm, does no one notice that Dom has 300 fewer ABs than the others in the table? He caught a heater coming back from Tacoma, but was totally overwhelmed in the playoffs and in any clutch or high-leverage situations. I don't think you can really count on him for a full year.

Ironic that you dismiss 269 PAs but focus on 29 PAs vs. very good pitching in the playoffs.

[Bil522]

What don't you like about Canzone?

Here's his numbers next to some other players that DH-

Ummm, does no one notice that Dom has 300 fewer ABs than the others in the table? He caught a heater coming back from Tacoma, but was totally overwhelmed in the playoffs and in any clutch or high-leverage situations. I don't think you can really count on him for a full year.

Ironic that you dismiss 269 PAs but focus on 29 PAs vs. very good pitching in the playoffs.

The 29 postseason AB's, the 119 medium and high leverage AB's where he hit a combined 52 tOPS+, the 62 AB's in a tie game where his tOPS+ is 13 and the 27 AB's that were 2-out with RISP that he was at a 49 tOPS+. Look, I am not saying he can't hit, I am just saying that his numbers aren't something you can count on. Dom can hit when there is no pressure, but folds like a house of cards when there is pressure....at least last year in his 269 PA's.